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up, some pints of the same matter as was first drawn ofF in tapping, ran out : 

 it was divided into innumerable cells, full of different matter, some as above; 

 some white, thick and slimy, some fatty, some purulent, &c. The partitions 

 between the cells very strong, cartilaginous in the middle, so as to resist the 

 knife ; like muscular flesh below and above this cartilage, so was each cell. 

 The whole ovarium, before it was first broken, might weigh about 20lb. The 

 bag of water on the right side, was the other ovarium, wherein was nothing 

 but like a large ox bladder, containing 9 or 10 pints of water ; like a bladder 

 at the lower end, and rising up like a crooked horn at the other end ; the skin 

 was very thin and smooth. The vesica urinaria and uterus were both sound. 



From this account, it appears, 1st. that here was a triple dropsy, viz. One 

 intermuscular on the left side of the abdomen ; one in the cavity of the belly ; 

 one, and the largest of all, in the right ovarium. 2dly, in barren women, and 

 stale maids, tapping should be very cautiously undertaken ; especially when the 

 whole belly is not equally distended, and not a free fluctuation of the water 

 heard and observed from side to side, as the sick turn in bed ; but especially if 

 there was, or is, a sensible difference to be felt in the hardness or softness of 

 the parts of the belly, before it is greatly distended. 



Concerning the Insect * mentioned by Gronovius in page 216 oj' this Number of 

 the Original; and alluded to in page 607 of this Volume of our Abridgment. 

 By a Gentleman of Cambridge. N" 466, p. 227. 



The last news from Paris mentions something very surprising in the account 

 of M. Reaumur's late memoir, read in the Royal Academy of Sciences there, 

 concerning an animal called a polypus, in which life is said to be preserved, 

 after it has been cut into several pieces, so that one animal seems by section to 

 be immediately divided into 2 or 3 more complete animals, each separately en- 

 joying life, and continuing to perform the proper offices of its species. 



Such an account would have been less regarded, had we not been informed 

 before, that two letters had been communicated to the Royal Society, some 

 months since, both which mentioned the same thing, and related it as a fact 

 averred, and carefully examined, by one of the greatest judges, and most in- 

 defatigable promoters of natural history, and especially of that part of it, which 

 leads to the knowledge of what is most particular and remarkable in the insect 

 and reptile part of the creation. 



The most common operations, both of the animal and vegetable world, are 

 all in themselves astonishing ; and nothing but daily experience, and constant 

 observation, make us see, without amazement, an animal bring forth another 

 of the same kind ; or a tree blossom, and bear leaves and fruit. 

 * Improperly so called, since it belongs to the class of worms, 



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